On October 23, 2012, Lt. Governor Greg Bell came to Sierra Bonita Elementary. He said if you are getting made fun of, you should always be happy, nice, and kind anyway. It doesn’t matter who you are, be nice to everyone! You should ignore people if they are being unkind. You should still be nice to them anyway. If you are nice to people, they will most likely be nice to you. Be proud of who you are! Always be nice to everyone! Lt. Governor Bell was impressed with Sierra Bonita and our principal Mr. Mike Larsen.

In celebration of Principal's Day, the students at Sierra Bonita showed Mr. Mike Larsen that he is the 'HEART' of the school. Each student decorated a heart and wrote a thank you by having a "Heart Attack" for him.

Chess, the game of foresight and strategy, has crept into mornings at Sierra Bonita. Mr. Shawn Rawlings, the assistant principal, has created a club for chess lovers. Experienced chess players meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to challenge each other to a game of chess. A round robin tournament per grade level will be played to determine who will compete in the final tournament. The final tournament will decide the overall winner. Students have the opportunity to compete with one another and the winners will receive trophies. Mr. Rawlings is also providing lunch to the chess guru who can defeat him.

Our school book fair is coming up on Monday, October 22nd and continues until Friday, October 26. On Tuesday we will be having a Grandparents Event from 3:15-5pm during which Grandparents are encouraged to come to the book fair and then read books with their Grandchildren. The book fair will be open during SEP Conferences. For more information please check out this link:

The Kindergarten classes had a wonderful time on their first field trip of the year. They expanded their class discussion of things found outside. They used their five senses to learn about the world around them. The students were able to engage in different activities at the park. They examined pond water looking for live critters, used binoculars to look at the mountains, and compared the types of leaves and needles from trees. While looking into the wetlands from the boardwalk, students were able to see spiders in their webs, water skippers on the water, and tiny fish swimming in the pond. They even heard some frogs croaking. The field trip was a huge success and the Kindergarten teachers send a big THANK YOU to all the great moms and dads who were able to help out and make it a success!

Easton Thomas is a delightful boy who brightens up any room he walks into. Like most first-graders, he loves sports, outdoor activities, and playing with friends. He is affectionately referred to as “cool Easton” by his teacher, upon Easton’s request. He is also a six-year-old who happens to be defying many odds.

Easton has a rare genetic disorder called Hunter’s Syndrome or MPS II. His body lacks an enzyme that helps break down long chain sugars called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the body. These sugars or GAGs build up over time in all of the cells in his body causing multiple organ complications and failures. These GAGs also build up in the brain causing neurological problems.

Typically, boys with Hunter’s syndrome (the disease affects primarily males) have a very limited vocabulary and seldom progress beyond the development of a toddler. The Thomas family has seen the devastation of this disease. Easton’s older brother, who also had Hunter’s syndrome, lost all of his skills by the age of 5 and continued to decline. He eventually passed away from the neurological deterioration at the age of 12.

However, Easton is currently involved in a seemingly successful medical trial that replaces the enzyme he lacks. The missing enzyme is inserted directly into his spinal canal which allows the enzyme to cross the blood brain barrier (an alternative intravenous enzyme replacement treatment is available but it does not cross the blood brain barrier). Not only is this procedure halting the progression of Easton’s disease but improving his condition. Easton is able to participate in his first grade classroom with other services provided as needed. Easton is considered a medical miracle and his mom states that “he has exceeded typical expectations by leaps and bounds.”

Mrs. Melissa Thomas recognizes the significance of Easton’s enzyme replacement therapy in achieving some remarkable milestones but also acknowledges the efforts of his first grade teacher as an enormous contribution to his success. Easton is assigned to Mrs. Erin Creamer’s first grade class and many blessing are associated with his placement in this amazing classroom.

When Mrs. Creamer realized she had a student with such a rare medical condition and unique challenges, she chose to be informed. With her characteristic assertiveness and tenacity, she wrangled an entire team of school and district specialists together to collectively discuss Easton and ensure he receive all the necessary services available. While Easton’s school team includes extraordinary experts, Mrs. Creamer is the driving force behind this outstanding team.

Mrs. Thomas says “the work and dedication of Mrs. Creamer really blows me away. She has taken it upon herself to learn about the disease and find resources that I didn't even know about.” She also states “I know that the clinical trial Easton is involved in is making medical history and the work Mrs. Creamer is doing with him is helping to accomplish many great things.”

Though an entire team is dedicated to Easton and his success, it is Mrs. Creamer who spends the majority of the time helping him thrive. Principal Mike Larsen is aware of the phenomenal job Mrs. Creamer is doing and comments “Mrs. Creamer gives of all of her time, effort, and resources and goes to great lengths to understand and support each child at his or her point of need. She works well to inform and gain additional supports for her students from fellow teachers, specialists, parents, and administrators. Mrs. Creamer cares deeply for students, and it’s easy to see her dedication in all of her words and actions. It’s an honor to work alongside Mrs. Erin Creamer.”

Sierra Bonita is fortunate to have such an incredible teacher and just as lucky to have this remarkable student!

Third grade students at Sierra Bonita sung "Otter Pops, Otter Pops, come get your Otter Pops" in hope of selling ice cold Otter Pops. They sold Otter Pops everyday at lunch recess at the start of the school year. In two weeks they earned $250 which will be used for field trips. The third grade students loved selling the Otter Pops and the other students enjoyed the cold treat on those hot days!

Our school has a wonderful website where you can access information such as the school’s Newsletter, Staff and Faculty, PTA, school hours, phone number and address, lunch menu, important dates, etc. If you haven’t had a chance to see our website, we encourage you to take the opportunity to view it at sierrabonita.nebo.edu . As our school continues to grow, and in order to cut costs so that we can better serve our students’ needs here at Sierra Bonita Elementary, we will no longer send home a printed copy of the school’s newsletter beginning in October. We hope that you will take advantage of our school’s website to access our monthly newsletter(s) as well as the other information available on-line. The office will have a few copies of the school’s newsletter for those who don’t have access to the internet or would like a printed copy.